Songwriters MeetUp & FiestaJAM

I'm not sure I should start my latest post with an apology, but it has been a minute, hasn't it, since I last shared a blog post with you. I'm terribly sorry! As many of you know, I just celebrated a milestone birthday, and I appreciate the kind words you've shared on social media. I’m grateful for the birthday cards sent via snail mail and virtually.

My wife, Yvonna, suggested that I share the letter I just sent to the songwriters who've attended our Songwriters MeetUp in Marble Falls. It's a podcast taping with songwriters and musicians of significance, where we discuss the numerous legends who have called Marble Falls, Texas, home. It'll give some insight into what I've been doing every month since October of 2025. I do this in cooperation with several Austin-area songwriters and FiestaJAM, the music festival I created with maestro Robert Linder.  This year's FiestaJAM, Nov. 6-8, features a Friday night, Nashville Star reunion song-swap with Buddy Jewell and hit songwriter David Lee. We'll honor Texas legend Gary P. Nunn on Saturday night, and feature Grammy winner Ruben Ramos and the Mexican Revolution on Sunday afternoon.

Here's the letter below the image.

Dearest Wordsmiths and Tunesmiths,

Celebrate the summer solstice, the longest day of the year, June 21, 4:00-7:00 p.m., with Songwriters MeetUp special guest Bernie Nelson, host john Arthur martinez, and master of ceremonies, Amber Westerman. Perhaps with a song about light, life, growth, and the prospect of a bountiful harvest in the future? Bernie Nelson first gained respect as a songwriter on the streets of Music Row in Nashville, Tennessee, for over 30 years. Nelson’s songs have sold over 25 million copies, with multi-platinum cuts by Randy Travis, Trace Adkins, Kenny Chesney, and the legendary Conway Twitty. Listen and learn about Bernie’s successful radio hits by country greats like John Anderson, Neal McCoy, Pam Tillis, and Confederate Railroad. 

The open mic for your original music immediately follows the podcast taping. Sign up at 3:15

P.M. or a tad earlier to secure your time slot. Our goal is to start the podcast on time, so your

songs have more time. The welcome and introductions will kick off at 4:00 p.m.

Once again, we remind you to keep your song introductions and stories brief—15-20

seconds—as other songwriters will be waiting to share their songs. If the signup list is long,

our board members will play only one song to make more time for others. Please tune your instruments before your performance slot to save time.

We invite novices and masters, performers and listeners alike, to the Songwriters MeetUp,

a celebration of the legends from the Marble Falls area, including Floyd Tillman, a CMA Hall of Fame inductee, Willie Nelson, whose children attended school in Marble Falls, and Oscar J.

Fox, born in Burnet County, was the composer for some of the most famous Western

songs of all time. Living legend Gary P. Nunn, who lives in Marble Falls, created some of the most iconic songs in Texas music history.